Hannah Link

3 days ago | castanet.net | Kathy Michaels |Cindy Harnett |Hannah Link |Jeremy Hainsworth

A second fully equipped operating room to meet demand for more surgeries for gynecological cancers is in the planning stages at Victoria General Hospital.

3 days ago | castanet.net | Kathy Michaels |Hannah Link |Jeremy Hainsworth |Maria Rantanen

Farmers markets on Vancouver Island are seeing an increase in attendance this season amidst a push to support local businesses. Mother’s Day was the first day of operations at Cedar Farmer’s Market just outside Nanaimo, where executive director Kate Poirier said it was close to the busiest opening day they’ve ever had. She said they saw about 3,500 people enter the grounds this year, which is around the same as last year’s record-breaking number. “It was absolutely incredible,” she said.

1 week ago | timescolonist.com | Jeff Bell |Hannah Link

A wildfire on Donaldson Island off East Sooke is now classified as “being held,” meaning it is not expected to grow beyond its current size of 0.6 hectare. Coastal Fire Centre information officer Sam Bellion said the fire on Donaldson Island — also known as Secretary Island — was discovered Monday afternoon and reported by a member of the public, with the cause still under investigation. “However the majority of spring wildfires are human-caused,” Bellion said.